No. 4 Notre Dame's final tune-up before its showdown with No. 1 Clemson next week went down without much drama Saturday. The Fighting Irish cruised to a 31-13 win over Georgia Tech courtesy of another dominant defensive outing as the Yellow Jackets mustered just 66 yards in the first half. But the Fighting Irish weren't the only historic power to show some defensive might on Saturday.
Alabama shut out Mississippi State 41-0 and held the Bulldogs' air-raid attack to just 200 total yards. While much of the attention from the No. 2 Crimson Tide's dominant victory will focus on receiver DeVonta Smith's four touchdown receptions, it was the most impressive defensive performance to date for Alabama.
Another traditional power certainly not known for its defense also shined in that regard on Saturday as No. 24 Oklahoma bested Texas Tech 62-28. The Sooners led 48-14 at halftime, thanks in part to 17 points scored off three Texas Tech turnovers. The Red Raiders did bust a few big plays on the Sooners' starters, but the authoritative victory in the turnover battle was a welcome sight for an Oklahoma defense that has struggled this season.
There was a lot to cover with those games and everything in between. CBS Sports was here every step of the way to update you with the latest scores, highlights and storylines throughout the day.
No. 5 Georgia 14, Kentucky 3 -- Box score
No. 7 Cincinnati 49, Memphis 10 -- Box score
No. 1 Clemson 34, Boston College 28 -- Takeaways
Michigan State 27, No. 13 Michigan 24 -- Recap
No. 4 Notre Dame 31, Georgia Tech 13 -- Box score
Auburn 48, LSU 11 -- Recap, takeaways
Texas 41, No. 6 Oklahoma State 34 -- Recap, takeaways
No. 2 Alabama 41, Mississippi State 0 -- Box score
No. 8 Texas A&M 42, Arkansas 31 -- Box score
No. 3 Ohio State 38, No. 18 Penn State -- Recap, takeaways
No. 10 Florida 41, Missouri 17 -- Box score
No. 24 Oklahoma 62, Texas Tech 28 -- Box score
Check out the complete Week 9 scoreboard
Wow, the Tar Heels dropped a second straight heartbreaker in which a furious second-half rally falls short. Huge win for Bronco Mendenhall and company after a rough 1-4 start.
Well, give Jahan Dotson and the Nittany Lions credit. He kind of became the story with seven catches for 133 yards and three TDs even in a losing effort. But with this game behind them and Wisconsin out of the picture at the moment, the Buckeyes are quite easily the best team in the Big Ten. And it's really not even close. Justin Fields also looks the best QB in America. Yes, even better than Trevor Lawrence.
Aggies now 4-1 with games against South Carolina, Tennessee, Ole Miss, LSU and Auburn left. If they play up to their potential the rest of the way, this could be a really dangerous team and one that hangs around on the outskirts of the CFP conversation.
Nice win for the Gators considering the three-week layoff and huge number of absences in the secondary. But the lasting storyline from this one will be the halftime brawl and whether or not it leads to suspensions for next weekend's game with Georgia.
Nice bounce back game for SMU following a loss to Cincinnati. Shane Buechele with a cool 23-of-28, 300 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs line.
Alabama held the Bulldogs' air-raid attack to just 200 total yards. While much of the attention from the No. 2 Crimson Tide's dominant victory will focus on receiver DeVonta Smith's four touchdown receptions, it was the most impressive defensive performance to date for Alabama.
UPSET ALERT!
No. 15 UNC is in trouble against Virginia. Tar Heels trailing 41-34 early in the fourth.
Kadarius Toney has two receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to highlight Florida's offensive effort. Tempers have cooled since the halftime brawl, but Florida may get hit with some suspensions ahead of next week's showdown with Georgia.
Penn State got within 21-13 on an eight-play, 75-yard drive, but the Buckeyes responded with….an eight-play, 75-yard drive and then got a field goal at the end of the quarter. Every yard has been a slog for the Nittany Lions tonight against this Ohio State defense.
Well, Oklahoma certainly looks like the Sooners we've come to expect! Aided by the return of Rhamondre Stevenson, the offense has already put up 362 yards and Stevenson has three touchdowns in his return from an NCAA suspension. Marvin Mims, Austin Stogner and Theo Wease have led the way in the passing attack. Texas Tech hasn't helped itself with three turnovers and Oklahoma is cruising in its fourth and final game away from Norman in the past month.
Kellen Mond is Texas A&M's all-time total yardage leader now? Shouldn't be surprising considering he's been there for 11 years. But he's having a great night. 21-of-25, 260 yards, 3 TDs and no picks.
Virginia capitalizes on a North Carolina fumble before the half to get a late TD and take a 27-20 lead into the break. 576 total yards in the first half between the teams.
FIGHT! We've got a fight at halftime!
Air Force led 14-7 early, but the Broncos' aerial attack with USC transfer Jack Sears filling in at QB was too much for the Falcons. Sears goes 17-for-20 with 280 yards and 3 TDs.
No one likes to do this, but give A&M credit, because this Arkansas defense has been pretty good this year. The Aggies are getting it done with drives of 75, 58, 69 and 74 yards and are up two scores after trailing 7-0 early.
Dominant first half from the Buckeyes as Justin Fields remains unconscious to begin the season. 15-of-18 for 147 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs in the first half. Buckeyes lead in total yards 280 to 75.
Oklahoma has a big early lead, but recent history indicates that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Cincinnati vs. Memphis was supposed to be the game of the day in the AAC, but Navy-SMU is a much better contest through two quarters. Midshipmen are 3-1 in the league while SMU is 2-1. The Mustangs have been clicking on all cylinders offensively so far and capitalized on a Navy fumble to add an extra FG just before half.
Early 2Q: No. 15 North Carolina 17, Virginia 13
Not much defense here early
CATCH OF THE DAY NOMINEE!
Mississippi State's offensive ineptitude is reaching new levels. Just 38 total yards in the first half for the Bulldogs. Absolutely unreal that this team beat LSU in week one and tricked everyone into thinking they were legit. Meanwhile DeVonta Smith has THREE touchdown catches in the first half. Insane.
It just feels wrong watching Ohio State play at Penn State without 100,000 in there for a whiteout. That's one of the best environments in sports, and the Nittany Lions are suffering without it. Justin Fields is on point early, and the Buckeyes are generating explosive plays in the run game.
Impressive opening drive from Arkansas…12 plays, 87 yards for a TD. Aggies evened it up when Kellen Mond hits Ainias Smith for a 35-yard TD, then they took the lead Smith ran it in from 15 yards out.
Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts appear to have picked up where they left off before the Gators had three weeks off due to COVID-19. Trask throws for 128 yards in the first quarter and Pitts has 3 catches for 61 yards.
Texas outgained 530-287 but wins it anyway with a fourth down sack in overtime. First road win vs. top-10 team since 2010, per Fox. Huge for Tom Herman, who needed something to hang his hat on.
Alabama is just wrecking Mississippi State. The Bulldogs stood firm and forced a field goal just now. But Alabama already has 216 yards. Devonta Smith with six catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs. Wow, wow, wow.
No. 6 Oklahoma State and Texas are headed to OT on Fox after OSU's Alex Hale hits a 34-yarder with five seconds left to tie it up. Great execution without any timeouts in the two-minute drill for the Cowboys to get that done.
Explosive second quarter for the Broncos. Jack Sears is now 12-of-13 for 178 yards and 2 TDs as he fills in for Hank Bachmeier.
Texas has the ball with a 34-31 lead on Oklahoma State with under three minutes to go. Longhorns trying to ice it on Fox.
